We have spent the last 2 Januarys working at La Palabra De Vida Christian Academy in San Antonio de Belen, Costa Rica. We are currently living in Lake Jackson, Texas, and will continue our work in November and December 2013. Dios te bendiga!

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Do I seek fairness as much for others as I do for myself?

Many of my friends believe Phil Robertson has been treated unfairly. Perhaps. Truth be told, when you are a well-known representative of a company, a brand, an idea, or an organization, there is a cost to words that do not reflect the stance of your employer. This is not a "free speech" issue. For example, the chairman of Exxon could not make a public statement calling for a ban on all offshore drilling. That statement is in utter conflict with his company's position. He soon would be on executivejobsearch.com. It is easy to imagine other speech from prominent figures that would not be well accepted. The president of PETA could not make a commercial for Whataburger.

Anyway. Is it sad that biblical principles are not well accepted in our culture? Of course it is. Is this all a big scam to make more money for Duck Commander and for A&E? Perhaps. But I see a more fundamental problem with American Christianity from this episode.

We quickly rush to causes when there is not cost to us. We are alarmed at unfairness...but, many times, only when it affects us personally or only when we can show outrage, but once again, it's when the remedy does not include money. Others notice our self-centeredness, and the message of Christ is not well received if we act as His representatives.

A sense of fairness, researchers say, is peculiar to people. Animals don't make sure smaller animals have enough food. A big dog may hog a whole bowl and leave some of his little ones drooling and hungry. But people, when witnessing unfairness feel something deep inside of them that says...this is wrong.

Biblically, we are told consistently to look out for those who cannot look out for themselves. Isaiah 1:17 says this...Learn to do right;seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

If we examine this list and be honest with its contents, we can conclude several things. One, God's heart is troubled by oppression. We, as Christ-followers are to defend the oppressed. Two, God's heart goes out to the helpless. We are to help those who cannot help themselves. Three, God expects us to LEARN. We won't naturally do right, we have to learn to do right by observing others who do right, and passionately studying God's word.

With all these activities, there is a cost. A cost of money and a cost of time. In fact, there are entire organizations defending these causes with tens of millions of dollars a year. But they can't do that much. It's up to us as Christian individuals to fill the gap. And than means our money, our time, our energy, and our passion.

Here's the test for you. Do I seek fairness as much for others as I do for myself? When I speak of fairness, is it always in the abstract, or is it on a personal level with another human being we know? Is my fairness only on Facebook or is it face-to-face with a person from Isaiah 1:17.